Envelope-mo istener



(No Model.)

E. RYDER.

ENVELOPE MOISTENER.

Patented Sept. 1, 1885.

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N. PUERS, Phnwmhumpiwr, Wuhingam D. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @rrrcn ELISE-IA RYDER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ENVELOPE-MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,632, dated September 1, 1885.

Application filed June 8, 1885. (X0 model.)

To all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELISHA RYDER, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Envelope-Moistcners; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and'represent, in-

Figure 1, a vertical section; Fi 2, a horizontal section showing the bearing-surface be low the slit.

This invention relates to a device for moistcning the gum upon envelopes preparatory to sealing the same, the invention being adapted to sponge-cups, such as are employed as deskfurniture, and is an improvement upon the cup described in my application for Letters Patout, Serial No. 155,393.

The object of my previous invention was to construct the cup so that envelopes might be readily moistened preparatory to sealin To this end I constructed the cup with a slot through one side, opening into the surface of the sponge, and through which the gummed surface of the envelope might be drawn in contact with the sponge to receive the requisite moisture from such contact with the sponge; but in that construction both surfaces of the flap of the envelope will be moistened, the one by coming in contact with the sponge, and the other with the plain surface of the inside of the cup, that plain surface receiving its moisture from the sponge.

While the said invention satisfactorily dampcns the gum, in some cases this moistening of the outer surface of the flap is 0bjectionablc. To overcome this difficulty is the object of my present invention, which consists in constructing the cup with a surface adjacent to the slit, and upon which the sponge may lie, so that the envelope introduced will pass between the said surface and the sponge, the said surface constructed in the form of a series of points or irregular surfaces, so as to present only slight bearing-points to the reverse side of the envelope, as more fully hereinafter described.

The construction or shape of the cup. bread 1;; considered, is immaterial; but I illustrate the cup as made from a sheet-metal casing, A, adapted to receive the sponge, with a weighted bottom, B, applied thereto. Through the side of the cup, at a convenient point for the introduction of the envelope, I form a slit, a, sub stantially as in my previous invention, and so that the flap of the envelope to be moistened may readily be drawn through this slit, to bring the gummed surface in contact with the sponge. This slit is best arranged near the bottom of the cup. From the slit inward is a slightly-raised platform, 0, the upper surface of which is substantially flush with the lower side of the slit a, the surface of which platform is constructed in the form of a series of points, as shown, the points coming substantially flush with the lower edge of the slit, and so that the wet sponge may rest on the platform, as shown.

To moisten the envelope, the flap, with the gummed side toward the sponge, is passed through the slit; the outer surface of the flap passing over the surface of the platform 0, the gunnned surface receives moisture from contact with the sponge, but the reverse surface, presenting only a series of points, or no extended single bearing, cannot retain upon its salient portions any degree of moisture. Therefore, as the outer surface of the envelope passes over these salient portions of the platform it is not wet, and substantially the same as ift-he surface over which it passes were without possible contact with the moist sponge; hence the wetting of the outer surface of the flap is avoided.

The particular method of forming the irreg ular beari ng surface or platform is innnaterial, it only being essential that it shall present bearingpoi nts having no considerable surface. They may be in the form of points or ribs, the ribs being brought to a sharp edge.

Vhile in the best construction the bearing surface presenting the salient points to the sponge at the slit is to make this surface above the bottom of the cup in the form of a platform, for the reason that should water from the sponge settle to the bottom it may rest in a space away from the bearing-surface for the envelope-flap, and thereby prevent the water from resting on said surface, in such case the grooves which form the salient bearing-points should be of such a character that any water whichwould naturally rest in such grooves may escape to the lower part of the cup. The bcaring-surfacehaving such salient points may be the bottom of the cup.

This invention, while adapted specially for the purpose of moistening the gummed surface of the flap, may be used to advantage in moistening the face of the envelope for the application of the stamp thereto, and the advantage of this improvement in moistening the front surface is the same as that in moistcning the fiapfthat is to say, the surface only upon which the stamp is to be placed will be moistened. The reverse side will remain dry, because of the peculiar formation of the platform over which it passes.

I claim 1. A spongecup adapted to contain and hold a moist sponge, the said cup constructed with a transverse slit, a, opening to the sponge 20 within the cup, the surface Within the cup from the lower edge of the slit inward constructed to present salient points toward the sponge, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A sponge cup constructed with a transverse slit, a, through its side, a raised platform, 0, in the bottom of the cup, its upper surface substantially flush with the lower edge of said slit, and the said upper surface con- 30 structed to present salient bearing-points, substantially as described. I

ELISHA RYDER. Witnesses:

ARTHUR D. ROBINSON, AUGUST BIERMANN. 

